Rotary steam-valve



(No Model.)

W. H. SMITH.

ROTARY STEAM VALVE.

v/ZQ

y WITNESSES ,y l 06.,

MKS/ m74 Patented Nov. 16, 1886.

IJV VEA/TOR orneyS N. PETERS, Phullthogmpher. Waxhngton. D. C.

llJIvIrEIi STATES 'PATENT qO'FFIcE.

WILLIAM H.' SMITH, oiry LA GROSSE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOOIIARLES n. SOHOFF, OF MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA.

ROTARY STEAM-VALVE.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 352.895, dated November 16, 1886. Application filed September 25, 1885. Serial o. 178,903. (No model.)

clear, and exact description of my invention,

which will enable others skilled in the art' to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

Figure lis longitudinal vertical sectional view of a Steamengineprovded with my improved rotating reversible valve. Fig.'2 is a cross-section ofthe same. Fig. 3 is a view of the sectional circular plane lying on the top of the valve, with cutoff blocks attached underneath. Fig. 4 is a bottom view of my rol tating reversible valve with three openings; Fig. 5, a plan, view of valve-seat. Fig. 6 is a section of cut-off block, and Fig. 7 ,is a vertical section of valve.

Similar lletters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Myinvention has relation to rotating valves for steam-engines for working steam expansively and reversing engines run by such Valves; and it consists in the improved construction and combination of parts of avalve rotating upon an axis at right angles with the axis of the cylinder, as hereinafter described and claimed, in such a manner as to permit a free exhaust during the entire length of the stroke and as to be capable of taking ysteam with equal facility, being run in either direction, thus permitting a reverse of the enine. g In the accompanying drawings, the letter A indicates the cylinderof a stean1-engine,wl1ich has the usual steam-channels, B B, opening at both ends of the cylinder and Opening into the valve-seat, Fig. 5, atr the points or openings H H, which are placed longitudinally on the cylinder.

The valve-seat, Fig. 5, is a circular plane,

and is provided with-'a cylindrical valve-chest,

D. The valve-Seat has a central exhaust-recess, E, and this recess has a laterally-extending exhaust-channel, G, opening through the yside of the valve-seat and provided with a. suitable exhaust pipe. The steam channels B B from the ends ofthe cylinder form steam ports or openings H H, diametrically opposite each other and at the points of the valveseat nearest to the ends of the cylinder. The valve-seat and valve-chest and the connection of the valve-seat with the cylinder are old and not claimed in this application.

The Valve, Fig. 4, is circularhav,ing its surface both topland bottom dat and bears with its under surface upon the valve-seat, and

is turned by a stem orshaft, J, passing through its center, and turning with its lower end in the central bearing in the valve-seat, and with itsupper portion passing lthrough a stuffingvboxK, centrally located in the top of the valvechest, which valvechest is provided with alivesteam port, L, opening from `a livesteam pipe, M. All of these appliances are old.

Near the edge of the circular valve and equidistant from each other are three (any other uneven number' may be used) segmental slots orvperforations, N, passing through the body of the valve and sufficiently wide to properly register with the openings in the valve-seat forthe admission of steam into the cylinder through the valve-seat, and extending equally distant in length on either side of a diameter of the valve Y Y, cutting the segmental exhaust-recess l? into equal parts, vthus permitting thevalve to rotate and take steam alike in either direction. These slots or perforations are long enough to permit the cylinder to take steam during the entire stroke. The length of these slotsor perf0rations to cover an entire stroke and their' loca/- tion are new and a part of my invention.

The valve has a central exhaust-recess, O, excavated in its under surface, with sections extending into the steam-balance, to permit the exhaust-steamto freely enter the central' cavity ofthe steam-balance, opening into a number of segmental recesses, P, equal to the number of slots or perforations N which are used in the valve, which segmental recesses are-diametrically opposite such slots or perforations'. These segmental recesses are excavations in the under surface of the valve, and furnish exhaust-openings, and are made to register with the openings in the valvef IOO and extending to the top of the valve-chest,

'closely around the cylindrical steam-balance,

:o-ling it are new and a part of my invention.

point, and may be changed whenever a change seat, and are long enough to admit of an entire stroke of the engine. These exhaust-recesses and excavations are old.

There is a cylindrical steam-balance, R, ofV the diameter of the exhaust-opening, in theV center of the valve, attached to the top of the valve (or may be cast with it) in its center,

having a flange, Q, at its top and a bearing on an annular flange, z, or bearing projecting from4 the under side of the covering of the valve-chest, and fitting steam-tight. This is old.

There are cut-off blocks or sections T, of the thickness of the valve, fitting steam-tight in the slots N, which form the cut-off of live steam,and are movable from one end of theV slot or steam-port tothe other. These cut-off blocks have a flange projecting from the under surface, on the curved sides, fitting a corresponding surface at the edge of the slot on the under side of the valve. This ange is for the purpose of more completely covering the port in the valve-seat as the cut-off block passes over it, an'd also to keep the blocks in place. These cut-off blocks and the manner of constructing and using them are new and a part of my invention. Fig. 6 is anend view of one of these blocks.

There is a circular sectional plane, Fig.Y 3, of sufficient thickness to give it the required strength, lying on the top ofthe valve, fitting and ground down on its under side to fit closely to the top of the valve. The sectional radii U lie over the cut-oli' blocks T, and are wide enough to form a slight projection on each side of said blocks. These blocks are made fast by screws or 'otherwise to the radii of this sectional circular plane, and are moved by it. On the top of this circular plane and around its periphery is a set of cogs, S, engaging the cogwheel w. This device is designed to change the location of the cutoff blocks from one end of the steam port or perforationN to the other at will, thereby permitting a reverse motion of the engine. This sectional circular plane and the manner of attaching it t0 the cut-01T blocks 'and of using and control- The cog-wheel .fr will be disengaged by pulling it outwardly into the cavity in the valvechest a', or by any other means. The change in the location of these cut-oli' blocks may be made by any other device without departing from the spirit of my invention. It follows that the length of the cut-oft' blocks T will determine the cut-olf of live steam, whether one-half, one-third, one-fourth, or at any other in the cut-oi'is desired.

When steam is let into the valve-chest and a slot or perforation is brought to register with one of the steam-channels ofthe cylinder in the valve-seat, the steam will enter through thesame into the cylinder, and at the same time a segmental exhaust-recesswill be over the Opposite port or opening, allowing the' exhaust steam to pass from the cylinder into the central recess in the valve, and out through the exhaust-opening in the valve-seat, and by revolving the valve the piston will make one stroke for each set of slots and recesses in the valve. The exhaust will continue until the piston has completed its stroke, so that the exhaust will be perfect, and the cut-oli' 4will be such as to allow the steam to act by expansion..4 When the cut-off block is changed to the other end of the slot, the valve can rotate and take steam in the opposite direction, thus permitting a reverse of the engine.

Having thus described my invention, I claim l and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesl. The combination of a circular valvechest having a valveseat at its bottom, a circular valve having a series of segmental openings, and a segmental block within each of said openings, each of said blocks being shorter than the said openings and adapted to be moved therein. 2.. The combination of a circular valvechest having a valve-seat at its bottom, a circular valve having a series of segmental recesses upon its under side, said recesses opening into a central exhaustaperture, and a` segmental opening in said valve between each of said recesses, a plate fitting upon said valve having a central aperture and a series of segmental openings, a segmental block secured to each of the radii of said plate and fitting within said segmental openings in said valve, said blocks being shorter than said openings and adapted to be moved therein.

3. The combination of a circular valvechest having a valve-seat at its bottom, a valve having a series of segmental openings, a plate having a circular aperture and a series f segmental openings, and a block secured to each of the radii of said plate, said blocks being shorter than the openingsin said IOO within said openings.

4:. The combination of a circular valvechest having a valve-seat at its bottom, a valve having a series of segmental openings, a platehaving a central aperture and a series of segmental openings, a block secured to each of the radii of said plate and adapted to be moved from end to end of said openings in said valve, the periphery of said plate being provided with cog-teeth, and a cog-pinion, said valve-chest being provided with a recess upon one side for the reception of said cogplnion.

In testimony'that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto aiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. SMITH.

Witnesses:

WM. H. S'roGDILL, S. MARTINDALE. 

